Trending

Stories

Microbes Identified in Space May Help Recognize Life on Other Planets

Must Read

Aniruddha Paul
Aniruddha Paul
Writer, passionate in content development on latest technology updates. Loves to follow relevantly on social media, business, games, cultural references and all that symbolizes tech progressions. Philosophy, creation, life and freedom are his fondness.

Astronauts of the ISS (International Space Station) have identified microbes in space for the first time without sending samples to earth. Now that the ability to identify microbes right in space is established, this might be an opening to diagnose as well as treat astronauts in real-time.

Scientists believe that now it is possible to identify DNA-based life in space as well. Aboard the orbiting ISS lab, the discovery opens to more experiments.

Also Read

The microbe identification process involves isolating DNA from samples, amplifying or making more copies, and then sequencing or identifying. The entire process was broken into two major steps: collecting the samples and amplifying by PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction). After these, the sequencing and identification were followed.

Peggy Whitson, the NASA astronaut, conducted the experiment aboard the ISS, in collaboration with Sarah Wallace, a microbiologist and the Principal Investigator of the project, and her team monitoring and guiding the former from the U.S.

In regular microbial monitoring process, Petri plates were touched to different surface points of the ISS. After a week in the MSG (Microgravity Science Glovebox), Whitson transferred cells from the on-growth bacterial colonies from the Petri plates into miniature test tubes. This transfer was done for the first time in space.

After collecting the cells, the DNA could be isolated and prepped for sequencing by using the MinION device, thus allowing the astronauts on board to identify the unknown organisms. This process was again accomplished for the first time in space microbiology.

Then, the data were downlinked to a team in Houston for further analysis and identification. Biochemical and sequencing tests were carried out to confirm the space station’s discoveries. The tests were run by researchers multiple times to ensure accuracy. Every single time the results were exactly such as the same in orbit.

Stay updated

Subscribe to our newsletter and never miss an update on the latest tech, gaming, startup, how to guide, deals and more.

Latest

Stories

- Advertisement -
- Advertisement -

Latest

Grow Your Business

Place your brand in front of tech-savvy audience. Partner with us to build brand awareness, increase website traffic, generate qualified leads, and grow your business.

- Advertisement -

Related

- Advertisement -
- Advertisement -
Nvidia & MediaTek Collaborate on Connected Car Tech Sony Unveils Project Q: A Next-Gen Handheld Game Console Snapchat Hits 200M+ Users in India, Introduces AI Chatbot Super Mario Bros. Movie: 6.4 Million Tickets Sold in Japan Samsung Galaxy A14 Launches in India with Impressive Features BGMI Returns: Battlegrounds Mobile India Now on Play Store Twitter Accuses Microsoft of Data Use Policy Violation GIFs take over Instagram comments, unleashing creative expressions! The First US State to Ban TikTok: Montana’s Bold Move Adobe Unveils New Product Line for Digital Marketing Advancements
Nvidia & MediaTek Collaborate on Connected Car Tech Sony Unveils Project Q: A Next-Gen Handheld Game Console Snapchat Hits 200M+ Users in India, Introduces AI Chatbot Super Mario Bros. Movie: 6.4 Million Tickets Sold in Japan Samsung Galaxy A14 Launches in India with Impressive Features BGMI Returns: Battlegrounds Mobile India Now on Play Store Twitter Accuses Microsoft of Data Use Policy Violation GIFs take over Instagram comments, unleashing creative expressions!